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Rob Reiner

Writer / Actor / Director

"Literally every day of my life, somebody will say, 'hey Meathead!'  No matter what I do with my life -- I could win the Nobel Prize -- it will say' Meathead wins Nobel.' It doesn't matter. I have Norman Lear to thank for that."

About This Interview

Rob Reiner was interviewed for nearly four hours at his Castle Rock Productions offices in Beverly Hills, CA.  Reiner talked about growing up surrounded by the group of comedy legends that included his father Carl, Sid Caesar and Mel Brooks.  He talked about his first forays into performing and listed some of his early television appearances.  He described his work as a television writer, particularly his staff job on the last season of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, for which he was partnered with Steve Martin.  Reiner spoke in great detail about his next significant career achievement as a regular on the groundbreaking sitcom All in the Family .  He discussed working with the series ensemble, described his character "Mike ‘Meathead' Stivic," and talked about the collaborative atmosphere on the set.  Reiner then detailed his work as a director of feature films including such now-classic movies as This Is Spinal Tap, Stand By Me, The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally …and Misery.   Reiner also talked about his role in the creation of Castle Rock Productions and his current work on children's development awareness, through "Parents Action for Children."  The interview was conducted by Karen Herman on November 29, 2004.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Shows

  • All in the Family
  • All in the Family: "Sammy's Visit"
  • Dick Van Dyke Show, The
  • Free Country
  • Good Heavens
  • Saturday Night Live
  • Seinfeld
  • Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour, The

People

  • Norman Lear
  • Carroll O'Connor
  • Carl Reiner
  • Dick Smothers
  • Tom Smothers

Topics

  • Characters & Catchphrases

Professions

  • Performers
  • Writers & Show Creators
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  • Highlights
  • Interview
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Highlights

  • Rob Reiner on his 1984 mockumentary <i>This is Spinal Tap</i> starring Christopher Guest and Michael McKeanRob Reiner on his 1984 mockumentary This is Spinal Tap starring Christopher Guest and Michael McKean
    Clip begins at: 00:01
  • Rob Reiner on how his <i>All in the Family</i>  character's nickname "Meathead" has stuck with him since the show endedRob Reiner on how his All in the Family character's nickname "Meathead" has stuck with him since the show ended
    Clip begins at: 20:41, Duration: 00m 43s
  • Rob Reiner on his <i>All in the Family</i>  co-star Carroll O'ConnorRob Reiner on his All in the Family co-star Carroll O'Connor
    Clip begins at: 23:25, Duration: 02m 55s
  • Rob Reiner on his <i>All in the Family</i>  character "Mike 'Meathead' Stivic"Rob Reiner on his All in the Family character "Mike 'Meathead' Stivic"
    Clip begins at: 19:15, Duration: 01m 26s
  • Rob Reiner on <i>All in the Family</i>  developer/ executive producer Norman LearRob Reiner on All in the Family developer/ executive producer Norman Lear
    Clip begins at: 07:00, Duration: 02m 05s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • On his early years; on his parents Carl and Estelle Reiner; on growing up in a showbiz household; on his father's series The Dick Van Dyke Show
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 2
  • On his early acting and comedy career; on some of his early television appearances; on being a writer for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 3
  • On being cast and co-starring in All in the Family
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 4
  • On co-starring in All in the Family
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • Part 5
  • On co-starring in All in the Family
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On hosting the third Saturday Night Live telecast
    Clip begins at: 24:40
  • Part 6
  • On working on Good Heavens; on creating and starring in the short-lived 1978 sitcom Free Country
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On the feature film Spinal Tap
    Clip begins at: 03:46
  • On the feature film Stand By Me
    Clip begins at: 12:43
  • On the feature film The Princess Bride
    Clip begins at: 20:53
  • On the feature film When Harry Met Sally
    Clip begins at: 24:23
  • On the feature film A Few Good Men
    Clip begins at: 27:22
  • Part 7
  • On his film work and the actors he's directed; on the formation of Castle Rock
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On Castle Rock's development of Seinfeld
    Clip begins at: 25:00
  • Part 8
  • On the success of Seinfeld; on his guest appearances in films; on his then-current (2004) projects; on advice to aspiring actors and directors; on how he would like eto be remembered
    Clip begins at: 0:0

Shows

  • All in the Family
    • Rob Reiner on All in the Family developer/ executive producer Norman Lear
      Clip begins at: 07:00, Duration: 02m 05s
    • Rob Reiner on his All in the Family character "Mike 'Meathead' Stivic"
      Clip begins at: 19:15, Duration: 01m 26s
    • Rob Reiner on how his All in the Family character's nickname "Meathead" has stuck with him since the show ended
      Clip begins at: 20:41, Duration: 00m 43s
    • Rob Reiner on his All in the Family co-star Carroll O'Connor
      Clip begins at: 23:25, Duration: 02m 55s
    • Rob Reiner on occasionally acting as a mediator between executive producer Norman Lear and star Carroll O'Connor on All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 26:38, Duration: 02m 13s
    • Rob Reiner on co-starring in All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 00:10, Duration: 28m 49s
    • Rob Reiner on co-starring in All in the Family; on the friction on-set on All in the Family  
      Clip begins at: 00:15, Duration: 24m 25s
  • All in the Family: "Sammy's Visit"
    • Rob Reiner on All in the Family director John Rich
      Clip begins at: 17:24, Duration: 00m 37s
    • Rob Reiner briefly on a big laugh on the All in the Family episode Sammy's Visit
      Clip begins at: 15:02, Duration: 00m 16s
  • Dick Van Dyke Show, The
    • Rob Reiner on his father Carl Reiner's series The Dick Van Dyke Show
      Clip begins at: 24:26, Duration: 04m 02s
    • Rob Reiner on the way marriage was portrayed on The Dick Van Dyke Show
      Clip begins at: 00:02, Duration: 01m 00s
  • Free Country
    • Rob Reiner on creating and starring in the short-lived 1978 sitcom Free Country
      Clip begins at: 00:50, Duration: 02m 56s
  • Good Heavens
    • Rob Reiner on working with his father Carl Reiner on Good Heavens
      Clip begins at: 00:06, Duration: 00m 42s
  • Saturday Night Live
    • Rob Reiner on hosting the third Saturday Night Live telecast
      Clip begins at: 24:40, Duration: 03m 50s
  • Seinfeld
    • Rob Reiner on Castle Rock's development of Seinfeld
      Clip begins at: 25:00, Duration: 03m 00s
    • Rob Reiner on the talents of Jerry Seinfeld; the success of Seinfeld 
      Clip begins at: 00:06, Duration: 02m 36s
  • Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour, The
    • Rob Reiner on being a writer on The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour,  his first "real" writing job
      Clip begins at: 11:26, Duration: 15m 12s

People

  • Glen Campbell
    • Rob Reiner on being a writer on The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour,  his first "real" writing job
      Clip begins at: 11:26, Duration: 15m 12s
  • Larry David
    • Rob Reiner on Castle Rock's development of Seinfeld
      Clip begins at: 25:00, Duration: 03m 00s
  • Norman Lear
    • Rob Reiner on All in the Family developer/ executive producer Norman Lear
      Clip begins at: 07:00, Duration: 02m 05s
    • Rob Reiner on occasionally acting as a mediator between executive producer Norman Lear and star Carroll O'Connor on All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 26:38, Duration: 02m 13s
  • Steve Martin
    • Rob Reiner on being a writer on The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour,  his first "real" writing job
      Clip begins at: 11:26, Duration: 15m 12s
  • Lorne Michaels
    • Rob Reiner on hosting the third Saturday Night Live telecast
      Clip begins at: 24:40, Duration: 03m 50s
  • Mike Nichols
    • Rob Reiner on the talents of Mike Nichols as a director
      Clip begins at: 13:11, Duration: 00m 34s
  • Carroll O'Connor
    • Rob Reiner on his All in the Family co-star Carroll O'Connor
      Clip begins at: 23:25, Duration: 02m 55s
    • Rob Reiner on occasionally acting as a mediator between executive producer Norman Lear and star Carroll O'Connor on All in the Family
      Clip begins at: 26:38, Duration: 02m 13s
  • Carl Reiner
    • Rob Reiner on his father Carl Reiner's series The Dick Van Dyke Show
      Clip begins at: 24:26, Duration: 04m 02s
  • Jerry Seinfeld
    • Rob Reiner on the talents of Jerry Seinfeld; the success of Seinfeld 
      Clip begins at: 00:06, Duration: 02m 36s
  • Tom Smothers
    • Rob Reiner on being a writer on The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour,  his first "real" writing job
      Clip begins at: 11:26, Duration: 15m 12s
  • Dick Smothers
    • Rob Reiner on being a writer on The Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour,  his first "real" writing job
      Clip begins at: 11:26, Duration: 15m 12s
  • Aaron Sorkin
    • Rob Reiner on the feature film A Few Good Men
      Clip begins at: 27:22, Duration: 02m 06s

Topics

  • Pop Culture > Characters & Catchphrases
    • Rob Reiner on his All in the Family character "Mike 'Meathead' Stivic"
      Clip begins at: 19:15, Duration: 01m 26s
    • Rob Reiner on how his All in the Family character's nickname "Meathead" has stuck with him since the show ended
      Clip begins at: 20:41, Duration: 00m 43s

Professions

  • Performers > Actor
    • Rob Reiner on what his All in the Family co-star Carroll O'Connor taught him about acting, in terms of the importance of quality material
      Clip begins at: 23:25, Duration: 02m 55s
  • Writers & Show Creators > Writer
    • Rob Reiner on what his All in the Family co-star Carroll O'Connor taught him about acting, in terms of the importance of quality material
      Clip begins at: 23:25, Duration: 02m 55s
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Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 2012-12-04 18:22.

Reiner is a true legend. His Spinal Tap is groundbreaking no matter how you look at it.

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2012-02-15 18:55.

The anti-smoking nazis are not fun people to start with. All you can really do is educate and let people choose for themselves. When you start making ridiculous laws & taxes to force your will people stop listening to you.

Submitted by Thingamajig on Tue, 2012-02-07 04:45.

Incrdible interview. What a great mind.

Submitted by Batben01 on Tue, 2011-07-12 23:24.

@Joecbg100 yeah, i bet he's pondering "My god, what nervous breakdown did i have when i directed North? and why didn't i apologize for it yet?"

Submitted by bowlchamp411 on Mon, 2011-07-11 15:37.

you have just been reinerd

Submitted by Peter258 on Wed, 2011-07-06 05:43.

@dwadejr904 stand by me.. 1 of my favorite movies of all time

Submitted by MissKarak on Thu, 2011-06-30 19:28.

@dwadejr904 no

Submitted by gothgirl121212 on Mon, 2011-06-27 15:45.

Butt out!

Submitted by theagemon5 on Sat, 2011-06-18 20:03.

south park !

Submitted by dwadejr904 on Fri, 2011-06-17 06:55.

Everyone is on this from south park, did anyone already KNOW him from "All in the Family"?

Submitted by BostonBobby1961 on Fri, 2011-05-27 10:24.

His father was a great comedy writer and director. If you've ever seen the old sitcom "Dick Van Dyke Show" that was Carl Reiner's life.

Submitted by Evangelionpilot on Mon, 2011-05-23 22:54.

I'm only here because of South Park as well, I hadn't heard of him before that, I'm a major nerd.

Submitted by ZamfirChannel on Thu, 2011-05-12 02:30.

Funny how many people's voices stay the same as they get older. But for Rob, it seems to me that his voice has gotten a bit deeper since he did AITF.

Submitted by lolatmyfoot on Mon, 2011-05-02 21:54.

seems like a nice guy

Submitted by NinaKRicci on Tue, 2011-04-26 03:23.

SOUTH PARK!!!1

Submitted by SockForToiletPaper on Sun, 2011-04-17 17:49.

Here because of Southpark.....Dude ate through that whole episode,lol.

Submitted by Doispe08 on Sun, 2011-03-27 14:12.

south park, you piece of shit. Now I'm having a smoke.

Submitted by Joecbg100 on Thu, 2011-03-24 23:01.

0:01, thinking about the film North he made.

Submitted by JasonLiesch on Fri, 2011-03-18 00:10.

Swears at 7:30. Brilliant.

Submitted by MrCutpaste on Tue, 2011-03-15 14:36.

My goooo. My precious gooooooooo.

Submitted by alligatorrPENS on Sat, 2011-02-12 21:29.

@wildcatnick99 haha yeah!!! mmkay

Submitted by TheWheelofLife100 on Wed, 2011-02-02 06:13.

Got a cigarette Rob

Submitted by ListenToKimmi on Mon, 2011-01-31 22:34.

shuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut theeeeeeeeeeee fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup you fucking nerds dont need to fucking say your here because u seen him on south park ur fucing stupid if u havent heard of him before south park

Submitted by darkcylander on Sat, 2011-01-29 02:05.

@eatthis92 thats not true, he is very famous as a real person

Submitted by finalman25 on Thu, 2011-01-20 02:19.

@chaoscreater haha i thought he was gonna be way bigger

Submitted by DrBloodyPoo on Mon, 2011-01-17 05:57.

I'd hate to be reiner write now because people would only remember me from that stupid all in the family crap and most of all south park. God bless Trey and Matt!!!!!!!

Submitted by stevenkonasr on Tue, 2011-01-11 07:42.

omg he looks and actually sounds like southpark lol

Submitted by RATP01 on Sun, 2011-01-09 05:48.

south park =)

Submitted by WinstonMan1000 on Thu, 2011-01-06 22:20.

@jaroncreed

I have he's meat head from all in the family! I still think he's a liberal douche bag though and don't really care for him at all. Anti smoking laws suck.

Submitted by bnote1990 on Fri, 2010-12-24 15:05.

south park

Submitted by mkrobinson95 on Mon, 2010-12-06 03:26.

25.05 - Actually, this episode was not part of the first 13 ... it was the 9th episode of the 2nd season (so the 22nd episode of the series) ... called "Mike's Problem"

Submitted by metalslut1 on Mon, 2010-11-22 16:01.

Rob Reiner played a great role on All in The Family. When he left the show, the arguing with Archie stopped the magic also left. The arguing brought out the issues and made the laughter.

Submitted by jhjenn on Sat, 2010-10-23 04:09.

Talks in this clip about actors from Stand By Me.

Submitted by monkeymonster5 on Mon, 2010-09-20 13:40.

@potlick18 Wow you really got that south park episode memorized , next time take a line from gillmore girls nobody watches that shit

Submitted by nergvol on Tue, 2010-08-24 00:04.

A great talent, his movies will endure the test of time.

Submitted by potlick18 on Wed, 2010-08-11 19:45.

rob reiner makes me sick! smoking is awsome! it has made america the country it is today whether you admit it or not. i dont care if i die of cancer when im 80, i dont wanna live to be 90 anyway.

Submitted by emoviebuff87 on Wed, 2010-07-21 21:58.

best jokes?? are you fucking kidding me????? North was not funny!!!!! I have great respect for Rob Reiner but come on dude!!!

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